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Council approves DOE-funded home electrification pilot with priority for January flood victims
Summary
The San Diego City Council approved a task order to onboard a program administrator for a DOE-funded Home Electrification Pilot that will deliver rebates and support to low- and moderate-income households; council added explicit prioritization for residents affected by the January 2024 floods. The $1,185,290 grant includes roughly $949,000 for rebates and about $235,000 for administration.
City Council on Nov. 18 approved a task order to hire a subcontractor to administer a Department of Energy-funded Home Electrification Pilot aimed at helping low- and moderate-income households switch to all-electric home appliances.
Jonathan Kolop, a program coordinator in the city’s Sustainability & Mobility Department, told the council the DOE grant totals $1,185,290. “The total funding for the program from the DOE is $1,185,290, of which the rebates will account for 949,000 and 235,000 for a program administrator,” Kolop said during the staff presentation. He said the rebate pool will be delivered through contractors so that homeowners will not have to pay up front and be reimbursed later.
The pilot is still in design. Shelby Bousso, deputy director and chief sustainability officer, said the administrator will help finalize eligibility rules and program processes once under contract. Staff said the program seeks to prioritize flood-impacted, low-income households and to complete program design with the administrator after a December kickoff, aiming for a launch in February 2025.
Several members of the public urged clarity around implementation and accountability. One commenter encouraged the city to require that SeaWorld-like lessees provide community benefits when the city pursues settlements; others asked how the program would reach residents who lack internet access or trust of government.
Council members pressed staff on contracting and outreach. Councilor Foster raised concerns that the city was using an existing as-needed stormwater engineering services contract (H2225979) and asked whether the procurement and scope were appropriate for administering a rebate-driven, equity-focused program. Staff responded that they identified a subcontractor with experience in grant administration and rebate programs and that roughly $200,000 is for administrator fees while about $900,000 will go to residents as rebates.
Council President Pro Tem Lacava moved approval of the staff recommendation and explicitly added prioritization for victims of the January 2024 floods; the motion was seconded and the council voted to approve the task order. The clerk recorded the vote as passing unanimously 7–0 with Councilmember Kent Lee and Councilmember Raul Campio absent.
Next steps: staff will finalize the contract and return with program design details and outreach plans after the administrator is onboarded.
